BPL Staff Picks: Best Releases of 2025Like this list

72 items

• Detective Stanley and the Mystery at the Museum

  Tunnicliffe, Hannah, 1979-

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  Children's Graphic Novel. The first in a new series, this quickly-solved mystery moves briskly enough for younger readers to follow along as a recently retired doggie detective discovers who's really behind the break-in at a museum. Bright colors,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Syme's Letter Writer

  Syme, Rachel,

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  Nonfiction. Syme argues that letter writing is a lost art form and shows us how we can bring the practice back into our routine. This humorous guide has excerpts from famous letters and letter writing etiquette books. Readers will also be advised on…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Victorian Psycho

  a Novel

  Feito, Virginia,

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  Horror. A quick read that really transports you to Victorian times! This book is full of dark humor, gore, and female empowerment. I enjoyed the quick pace and steady action of this story. - Shane J., Charlestown Branch Library

• Good Dirt

  a Novel

  Wilkerson, Charmaine,

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  Fiction. After loving "Black Cake," I was excited for this book and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed reading this generational family epic following Ebby, fresh off of being left at the altar, as she heals and pieces together the connection between…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Secret History of the Rape Kit

  a True Crime Story

  Kennedy, Pagan, 1962-

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  Nonfiction. This book offers an incredible history of a second-wave feminist invention and its creator: Marty Goddard's rape kit. This is part true crime, part biography, which makes for a delightful read despite the topic at hand. As Kennedy…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Kills Well With Others

  Raybourn, Deanna,

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  Thriller. Just like the first entry in this series about retired female assassins being pulled back into the business, this was a fun thriller full of action and drama! I think Raybourn is really great at writing compelling characters, and she does…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• I Leave It Up to You

  a Novel

  Chong, Jinwoo,

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  Fiction. A cute family drama that takes place in a sushi restaurant. I fell in love with the cast of characters and cozy setting of this story immediately. - Shane J., Charlestown Branch Library

• Crush

  a Novel

  Calhoun, Ada,

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  Fiction. Calhoun, author of the memoir "Also a Poet," delivers a funny and generous novel about a woman questioning her marriage and expectations. From William James to Taylor Swift, from "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" to Nick Cave (the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Sunrise on the Reaping

  Collins, Suzanne,

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  Teen Fiction. "Sunrise on the Reaping" gave me what I wanted from a Hunger Games prequel! - Carly S., Grove Hall Branch Library

• Tilt

  a Novel

  Pattee, Emma,

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  Fiction. Annie is nine months pregnant and shopping for a crib at a Portland, Oregon IKEA when the "Big One" strikes the Pacific Northwest. While so much disaster fiction features a lone wolf everyman, it was riveting to read how Annie relies on her…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Very. Bad at Math

  Larson, Hope,

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  Children's Graphic Novel. "Very Bad at Math" manages to fit in all the middle school drama you'd expect from a contemporary graphic novel starring an eighth grade class president, along with politics, pizza, learning disabilities, robots,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• I Witnessed

  the Lizzie Borden Story

  Kraatz, Jeramey,

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  Children's Graphic Nonfiction. What a read! This book retells the Lizzie Borden case from the eyes of Lizzie's real-life young neighbor, Charlie. A whodunit that encourages readers to think about the facts and make their own assumptions, it's a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Roll for Love

  England, M. K.,

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  Teen Romance. "Roll for Love" went straight to the heart for me as a D&D-loving queer person from the South--England perfectly captured loving where you're from and being afraid it's not going to love you back. The romance between Harper and Ollie…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Twist

  a Novel

  McCann, Colum, 1965-

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  Fiction. "Twist" follows Anthony Fennell, an Irish journalist who's down on his luck, as he investigates the world of undersea cables and the repair teams that fix them, which are led by enigmatic engineer John Conway. As the ship travels to repair…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Don't Trust Fish

  Sharpson, Neil,

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  Children's Picture Book. This hilarious picture book will have older readers laughing out loud! Follow along as you learn why fish are simply never, ever to be trusted. - Maggie L., Central Library

• Crumble

  McClaren, Meredith,

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  Children's Graphic Novel. I read this book for the mouth-watering descriptions of baked goods and the whimsy of baking contagious feelings into them, but I loved how Crumble handled losing a loved one at such a young age. - Amy B., Central Library

• Rabbit Moon

  a Novel

  Haigh, Jennifer, 1968-

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  Fiction. As I was reading Haigh's latest novel (in just three days!), I was worried that it would be one of her first books that I didn't like. There was something somewhat off-putting that it took me a while to identify. When I did, I began to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Poets Square

  a Memoir in Thirty Cats

  Gustafson, Courtney,

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  Nonfiction. I have followed Poets Square Cats for years and was thrilled for this book release. Gustafson writes about feral cats and the people who look after them with eloquence, atmosphere, and compassion. Taking care of community cats also means…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Wish Upon a K-star

  Cho, Kat,

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  Teen Romance. I don't know a ton about K-Pop, but I loved the drama and romance of this book anyways and it would be a great vacation read! Hyeri is a former popstar and aspiring actress who can't shake her (undeserved) bad reputation. Minseok is…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Names

  Knapp, Florence,

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  Fiction. I loved following along with the three different story lines, each so different yet familiar in some ways. Although all three explore the painful effects of domestic abuse, there is hope and so much love found in each. - Liz B, Fields…Read moreRead more of this annotation